Combination-bench.



E. T. TURNEY. COMBINATION BENCH. APPLIOATION FILED 00T.1o, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE T. TURNEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINATION-BENCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE T. TURNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination-Benches, of which the following is a specification.

rllhis invention aims to provide an improved bench especially adapted for use with pianos fitted with automatic players.

rIhe invention provides several novel points of advantage which are set out in detail hereinafter and the novel features of which are defined in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a bench embodying the invention.

Figure l is a vertical transverse section approximately on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is an end view, showing in dotted lines the manner of reversing the seat. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a similar view in another position of adjustment.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, legs A are fastened in the corners of a frame which supports the seat, this frame comprising the longitu dinal side rails B and transverse end rails C. Hinged to one of the side rails B by means of hinges D is a board E which normally lies fiat on the frame and constitutes a part of the seat, and which may be swung upward as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.. 2. The board E has a central rectangular aperture as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 in which a board F is pivotally mounted, by means of longitudinal pivots Gf. 'On one face of the board F is mounted a raised box or frame H, the top of which is inclined and covered with upholstery J. A pair of transverse supporting rails K are arranged immediately below the ends of the board F, the ends of the rails K being let into the front and back rails B as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The box or frame H is of less length than the board F on which it is mounted, so that it may swing down between the transverse supporting rails K as shown in Fig. 4: and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The board F with the attached box or frame H thereon can be reversed by lifting the board E in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and in either position its ends will be supported by the rails K. This board F with the box or frame H thereon thus constitutes Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

serial No. 724,906.

a portion of the seat which is adjustable relatively to the portion E. In the position of this adjustable portion of the seat shown in Figs. 2 and 4 its top is flush with the top of the board E while in the position of Figs. l and 3 its top is elevated and inclined relatively to the top of the portion E. Thus in the first position we have a long flat bench such as is desirable for playing by hand on the piano; and in the second position a similar seat which is elevated and inclined, this being a more comfortable position for operating the automatic player.

The top of the board E and the faces of the board F are varnished and smoothly polished so that in playing the piano by hand we have a seat upon which the operator can easily slide sidewise to reach the keys at opposite ends of the keyboard of the piano. An upholstered seat would not be so desirable for playing the piano by hand since it would restrict freedom of movement of the operators body from one side to the other. For using the automatic player, however, the operator sits always in one position, and an upholstered seat may be used. This is more comfortable and has also the advantage of keeping in good condition longer than a polished wooden seat. Furthermore, the upholstered seat provides a frictional engagement with the operator which gives him a good purchase for pushing against the pedals when operating the pumper; and which resists the tendency, due to the inclination of the seat, to slide forward when not pumping.

Such benches in most cases will be used nearly always in the position of Fig. 1 and only occasionally turned down to the position of Fig. 2. The box H makes the central member of the seat heavier at that side of its pivot, so that when the board E is raised as shown in Fig. 2 the central member will immediately swing freely and automatically to the reverse position. It is, therefore, necessary only to raise the edge of the board E, when the central member will swing around automatically, and then to lower the board E, in order to bring the parts to the position of Fig. 2.

rIhe pivot G is fixedly located in the seat and is half way between the front and rear of the opening in the main portion of the seat so as to cause the board F to fit properly at front and rear in both posit-ions of adjustment. The opening is substantially or approximately in the center of the main portion E of the seat, which insures its having an uninterrupted periphery, as indicated by the portions E at both front and rear in Fig. l and at both sides in F ig. 3. This construction is advantageous in maintaining the continuity of the front edge of the seat.

Though l have described with great particularity of detail a certain speciie embodiment of mv invention yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is limited to the particular embodiment disclosed. Various modifications thereof in detail and in the arrangement and combination of the parts and various additions thereto may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:

A combination bench having a support, a main portion of its seat pivoted at one edge ot' said support, and a supplementary portion pivoted to the main portion and adapted when the latter is raised to be turned on its pivot and adapted when the main portion is lowered to be supported in the position to which it was turned, said supplenientary portion having one face adapted to lie flush with the main portion when turned to one position so that said main and supplementary portions form each a part of one continuous seat upon which the user may shift laterally from one portion to the other and having another tace adapted to form a seat raised above said main port-ion when turned to another position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EUGENE T. TURNEY. lVitnesses D. ANTHONY USINA, LULU STUBnRwoLL.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

